Wind speed indicators
10-15-08 | 09:39 AM
#1
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The Haberdasher
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Philadelphia
Bikes: Panasonic AL-7000
Wind speed indicators
What if anything do you use to determine the direction and speed of the wind? That is beside the pain or lack thereof in your legs. I use the flags on the light polls near Temple's campus and other flags along the way. Am I the only one who does this?
10-15-08 | 09:56 AM
#2
An Army of Fred
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost South of Nowhere East of Edan On the Waterfront Far from the Madding Crowd (Biloxi, MS)
Bikes: 1992 Specialized Crossroads Trail
There is the Beaufort scale that will give you a rough idea of wind speed. I wouldn't advise judging direction by clouds simply because the air aloft may be moving faster and at a different direction than on the ground due to friction, trees, buildings, etc..
For the truly geeky, you can always buy an anemometer.
Last edited by harleyfrog; 10-15-08 at 10:05 AM.
10-15-08 | 10:04 AM
#3
Have bike, will travel
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From: Lake Geneva, WI
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I pass by open water and look at the surface for an indication of direction and speed. I saw water-like-glass, today 
. Flags are a good indicator, also.
Michael Barrett
. Flags are a good indicator, also.Michael Barrett
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10-15-08 | 10:58 AM
#4
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I look at long grass by the side of the road and also any leaves being blown across the road. If you ride past an airport the windsock is an excellent indicator: if the sock is straight (i.e. not sagging at the end) the wind is at least 15 knots or 17mph.
10-15-08 | 11:12 AM
#5
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From: Michigan
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I don't bother. It's not like it's going to make any difference, I ride every day regardless of weather, and there are no alternate routes for me to take, except right at the end I have a chance to take a different path that breaks the prevailing headwind but is about half a mile longer. If I've been riding into a stiff headwind up until then, I'll take that route.
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10-15-08 | 11:55 AM
#6
Nobody, et al.
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From: Longmont, CO
Bikes: Surly LHT
Ya, flags mostly.
Occasionally the windsock at the heli-ports at either hospital I work at.
Not that it makes any difference really - I just get a sense of how miserable the headwind is going to be.
Occasionally the windsock at the heli-ports at either hospital I work at.
Not that it makes any difference really - I just get a sense of how miserable the headwind is going to be.
10-15-08 | 12:00 PM
#7
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From: Absecon, NJ
Bikes: Puch Luzern, Puch Mistral SLE, Bianchi Pista, Motobecane Grand Touring, Austro-Daimler Ultima, Legnano, Raleigh MountainTour, Cannondale SM600
Our local utilities authority installed six pretty large windmills at their facility not far from my house. They're pretty handy for indicating wind speed and direction.
10-15-08 | 12:49 PM
#8
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From: Edmonton, AB
Bikes: '07 Giant OCR3
Flags and surveying ribbon (lots of that around here). Sometimes grass/trees. Although i usually do check the wind on the weather before i go anywhere. When your riding 20km across bald prairies, wind can be pretty important. I can modify my route depending on the wind.
10-15-08 | 01:10 PM
#9
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From: Minneapolis
I sometimes look at a couple of flags along my route to estimate direction and speed of the wind. When I check the weather (on the web) before heading out I also note the wind direction and speed forecast -- not that I will vary my route anyway.
I think what I mostly use my knowledge of the wind speed and direction for is to excuse my slow speed (headwind) or to anticipate a fast ride (strong tailwind). It puts a smile on my face when I can anticipate having a 20 mph tailwind when I head home from work.
I think what I mostly use my knowledge of the wind speed and direction for is to excuse my slow speed (headwind) or to anticipate a fast ride (strong tailwind). It puts a smile on my face when I can anticipate having a 20 mph tailwind when I head home from work.
10-16-08 | 05:03 AM
#12
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From: Atlanta, GA
Bikes: Fuji Absolute 4.0
weather rock. if it's swinging... head wind expected if it's gone... I don't ride. read those of you fighting 20+ mph head winds. ouch. my route is very hilly. I rarely get a nasty headwind like that mostly just get buffeted around hills and valleys. Only a few spots that are open enough to get more direct winds. Lucky me.
10-16-08 | 07:42 AM
#13
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From: Chicago
I always check the flags along my route to get an idea. However, correlating them with an real number is hard. The wind speed you'll find on weather sites is at some distance off the ground, unobstructed.
10-16-08 | 08:19 AM
#14
Carpe Diem
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From: MABRA
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I look at women's skirts.
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10-17-08 | 04:13 PM
#15
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https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/472292-how-do-i-measure-wind-resistance-my-daily-bike-commute.html
I wrote this:
I check out the wind speed and direction at the beginning of my ride as given by The Weather Channel. There also is a Beaufort Scale that relates wind speed to observation of its effects, e.g. flags flying, leaves blowing.
A personal relative system I use is on a 1 to 6 scale (I like for some reason, having seen it used in white water rafting). I assess how an unobstructed flag is flying on a pole of about 20 feet or so height. For example if it is gently wafted and easily falls back, that's a 2. If it flies and wavers, but doesn't fall back, that's about 3, and if it is flying pretty straight, that's a 4. Here in Boston I rarely get to 4. This system helps me record why I might have gone fast or slow on a given day. Sometimes I'm not sure if it's my energy level or the wind.
The strongest winds I've ridden in were out west. On a highway near the Grand Canyon where we had to hold tight to stay on a straight course, sometimes the wind would abate and we'd veer into the center of the road. Crossing a pass in San Berardino, we barely had to pedal with a strong tailwind.
A personal relative system I use is on a 1 to 6 scale (I like for some reason, having seen it used in white water rafting). I assess how an unobstructed flag is flying on a pole of about 20 feet or so height. For example if it is gently wafted and easily falls back, that's a 2. If it flies and wavers, but doesn't fall back, that's about 3, and if it is flying pretty straight, that's a 4. Here in Boston I rarely get to 4. This system helps me record why I might have gone fast or slow on a given day. Sometimes I'm not sure if it's my energy level or the wind.
The strongest winds I've ridden in were out west. On a highway near the Grand Canyon where we had to hold tight to stay on a straight course, sometimes the wind would abate and we'd veer into the center of the road. Crossing a pass in San Berardino, we barely had to pedal with a strong tailwind.
10-17-08 | 05:55 PM
#16
genec
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The other thing I tend to look at is tall grass... I look to see how it bends.
